Campus Arrival Dates & Opening Weekend
Below is information regarding your arrival on campus, including information about the events that take place over Opening Weekend.
International Student Arrival (Friday, June 19, 2026)
Move-in day for all international students - students who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents, including those who currently live in the United States - is Friday, June 19, 2026, between 8:00am - 9:00pm. Students must stay in their assigned dorm that night. Brunch and dinner during designated meal times will be provided for all students arriving on June 19.
If students/families are in need of lodging accommodations for arrival prior to this date, see Carnegie Mellon's recommended accommodations. Please be aware that most hotels in the United States will not permit an individual under the age of 18 to stay in a hotel without a parent/guardian.
Students will complete a Travel Plans form by May 5, 2026, as part of their enrollment paperwork to confirm their arrival and indicate which shuttle bus they would like to take from the airport to campus (if applicable). Additional information, instructions, and reminders will be sent by email before Opening Weekend.
Domestic Student Arrival & Opening Day (Saturday, June 20, 2026)
Opening Day is the arrival day for all domestic students (U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents, including those who live outside the United States). Check-in begins at 8:00am and goes until 3:00pm. Students must stay in their assigned dorm that night.
It is strongly recommended that students move into their assigned dorms between 8am - 3pm on Saturday so that students can attend Opening Day meetings and activities, some of which are mandatory. The Opening Weekend schedule will be shared by email closer to the date.
If students/families are in need of lodging accommodations for arrival prior to this date, see Carnegie Mellon's recommended accommodations. Please be aware that most hotels in the United States will not permit an individual under the age of 18 to stay in a hotel without a parent/guardian.
Students will complete a Travel Plans form by May 5, 2026, as part of their enrollment paperwork to confirm their arrival and indicate which shuttle bus they would like to take from the airport to campus (if applicable). Additional information, instructions, and reminders will be sent by email before Opening Weekend.
Please note: Parents/guardians are encouraged, but not required, to attend Opening Day. Students and parents/guardians will have the opportunity to hear from academic directors and the Director of Pre-College Programs, meet with program instructors, and discuss student schedules. Lunch and dinner are provided for both students and parents/guardians on Opening Day. Parents/guardians may stay through dinner; however, all programming after dinner is for students only.
Orientation Day (Sunday, June 21, 2026)
On Orientation Day, students will have the opportunity to learn more about Carnegie Mellon University, navigate campus, and get to know other Pre-College students. Some academic programs will have orientation meetings on this day as well. We highly encourage all students to take full advantage of this day.
Transportation to Campus
Students will receive an email prior to Opening Day with detailed instructions for arriving on campus. You may also download the Campus Map for your reference. General options for traveling to campus are:
Shuttle Bus from the Airport to Campus - June 19 and 20
Pre-College Programs will provide a free shuttle bus service from Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) to campus for students traveling alone. The shuttle bus times are below. As a reminder, students will need to review and complete their Travel Plans form in the Student Portal by May 5, 2026, to indicate shuttle bus preference.
Friday, June 19 (international students): 8:00am, 12:00pm, 4:00pm, 8:00pm
Saturday, June 20 (domestic students): 7:30am, 9:00am, 10:30am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm
Driving
Driving directions will be provided in a communication sent prior to Opening Day. It will also include information on the location of residence halls and traffic flows.
28X Bus (from PIT airport)
The 28X Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus is an easy way to travel to campus. The bus can be found at the PIT airport Door #2 on the lower (baggage claim) level. Please be aware that the 28X bus runs between the hours of 4:30am - 12:15am. If students are arriving outside of these hours, they must arrange alternative transportation. Please see the above link for current bus fare cost, and please be prepared to have exact change as the bus drivers do not give change. The inbound Morewood Av. - past Forbes Av. stop will stop directly in front of some of our residential buildings, Morewood Gardens & E-Tower.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft operate in Pittsburgh and provide a simple way to find transportation in our city. Please download and set up an account via the apps for these services prior to arrival.
Amtrak/Greyhound
Students arriving by train or bus into downtown Pittsburgh must arrange their own transportation to campus via one of the other methods listed above.
Please note: If electing to use the Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) bus system, the 28X bus will not be a valid route from these stations. Use the PRT Trip Planner Tool to assist with finding the best route. Use the University's address (5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213) as the destination address.